Eight U.S.-built C-130 Hercules military transports bought by Libya are sitting in a field on the grounds of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia. Moammar Gaddafi bought the planes but, when politics shifted, the U.S. military grounded them. Now the crazy dictator wants a $70 million refund.

Just for fun, here's a 1965 AMC Marlin parked in front of a decommissioned Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Interesting fact: the two are roughly the same age — the Blackbird was introduced into service in 1966. [AMCRC]

A recycled jetliner produces tons of metal and millions of dollars in parts, but a mistake could cost hundreds of lives. Here's how the company that salvaged the plane from Lost does its destructive business.

Because if you had eleven SR-71 Blackbirds, you'd arrange 'em all pretty and take a nice picture, too. And then you'd go hauling off into the sky like a supersonic, globetrotting bat out of hell. Technology rocks. [Lockheed Martin/Flickr]

Fifty years ago, the United States Air Force discovered its top-secret Lockheed U-2 spy plane was nightmarishly tricky to fly. To keep aircraft from crashing, they began using high-speed chase/guide cars during take-offs and landings. Government-issue Camaro Z/28, anyone?

Fifty years ago this month, Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the USSR in his Lockheed U-2. The legendary spy plane outlived its successor and is still flying today. To paraphrase Iceman, "We like you because you're dangerous." Amen.

We've read what it feels like to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. Now learn how to do it yourself. Here's the Air Force's official, and recently declassified, operations manual for the gorgeous, evil-looking spy plane. Who wants to go 2112 mph?